Chapter 5 5

The streets were quieter than usual as Elena stepped out of the building and into the cool night air. Her heels clicked against the pavement, the sound oddly soothing in the stillness. The conversation with Damien replayed in her mind, his voice lingering like a melody she couldn't shake.

She wanted to believe that he was sincere, that he saw something in her beyond the tangled mess of her father's legacy. But she couldn't ignore the sinking feeling that trusting Damien Blackwood might be the most dangerous thing she'd ever do.

Her phone buzzed again as she hailed a cab, and she glanced down at the screen. It was Mia.

Mia: You okay? You've been quiet all day.

Elena hesitated before responding. She didn't know how to explain the turmoil she was feeling, the way Damien had managed to wedge himself into her thoughts, her life.

Elena: I don't know anymore.

The cab ride home was quiet, her mind racing as she stared out at the city lights blurring past. By the time she reached her apartment, she felt no closer to a decision than she had before.

The next morning, Elena woke to the sound of her phone ringing. She groaned, reaching blindly for it on the nightstand.

"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice groggy.

"Elena, it's Mia." Her best friend's voice was sharp, urgent.

"What's wrong?" Elena sat up, immediately alert.

"Have you seen the news?" Mia asked. "There's something about Damien-something you need to see."

Elena's stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

"Just check your phone," Mia said. "It's everywhere."

Elena ended the call and quickly opened a news app. Her heart sank as she read the headline:

Billionaire Damien Blackwood Under Fire for Shady Business Dealings.

The article detailed allegations of insider trading and unethical business practices, painting Damien as a ruthless, power-hungry tycoon who would do anything to get ahead. It was accompanied by a photo of him leaving a courthouse, his expression cold and unyielding.

Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the article. Was this who Damien really was? Had she been foolish to even entertain the idea of working with him?

A new text came in, this time from an unknown number:

I warned you about Damien. He's not who he seems. Call me if you want the truth.

Elena's breath caught. She stared at the message, her mind racing. Who had sent it? And how did they know about her connection to Damien?

Before she could process what was happening, her phone rang again. This time, it was Damien himself.

"Elena," his voice was calm but edged with tension. "I assume you've seen the news."

She swallowed hard, her voice wavering as she replied, "I have. What's going on, Damien?"

"It's a hit piece," he said, his tone clipped. "Someone's trying to discredit me, and they're using half-truths to do it. I need you to trust me."

"That's a big ask right now," Elena shot back, her frustration bubbling over. "How do I know you're not hiding something?"

Damien sighed, and for the first time, he sounded weary. "I'll explain everything. But not over the phone. Come to my office this afternoon. I'll give you the truth-the whole truth."

Elena hesitated. Every instinct told her to run, to cut ties with Damien before she got dragged any deeper into his world. But there was a part of her that needed answers, that needed to know if the man she was beginning to trust was as dangerous as everyone seemed to think.

"I'll be there," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Good," Damien replied, his tone firm. "And Elena? Don't believe everything you read."

The line went dead, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

That afternoon, Elena walked into Damien's office with a mix of trepidation and determination. He was waiting for her, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. His suit was immaculate, his expression calm, but there was a tension in his posture that he couldn't hide.

"Elena," he said, turning to face her. "Thank you for coming."

"Don't thank me yet," she replied, crossing her arms. "I want answers, Damien. And I want the truth."

He nodded, gesturing for her to sit. "You'll get it. But first, you need to know that this isn't just about me. Whoever's behind this-whoever's trying to take me down-they're also targeting you."

Her eyes widened. "Me? Why?"

"Because you're tied to me now," Damien said, his voice low. "They see you as a vulnerability, a way to get to me. That's why I need you to stay close, Elena. So I can protect you."

She stared at him, her mind racing. Was this another manipulation, another way to pull her deeper into his web? Or was Damien telling the truth?

"You're asking me to trust you," she said, her voice steady. "But how do I know you're not just using me?"

Damien stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Because I don't use people, Elena. Not like that. I made mistakes, and I've done things I'm not proud of. But I don't lie about who I am. If you want the truth, you'll find it here. Not in the headlines, not from anyone else-here."

The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. For a moment, she felt as though she could see the man behind the mask-the man who was just as vulnerable as she was.

"I don't know if I can trust you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damien nodded, his expression softening. "Then let me prove it to you."

As the silence stretched between them, Elena realized that the choice she made today would change everything. Whether she walked away or stayed, her life would never be the same. And for the first time, she wasn't sure which path was the right one.